The Philippine National Police (PNP) has launched an investigation into fake social media posts falsely claiming that the opening of classes on June 8 had been postponed.
PNP Chief Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. ordered the Anti-Cybercrime Group to trace the source of the misleading posts, warning that those behind the false information may face legal consequences.
Nartatez said the move is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla to promote the responsible use of social media.
“The PNP condemns the spread of false information that causes confusion among students, parents, and the public. We remind everyone to verify announcements through official government channels before sharing them online,” Nartatez said.
The Department of Education earlier flagged a fake social media post claiming that the opening of classes on June 8 had been suspended. DepEd clarified that no such announcement had been issued and urged the public to rely only on its official communication channels.
“We have directed the appropriate units, including the Anti-Cybercrime Group, to validate the incident and determine the source of the misleading post. Those found responsible may face appropriate legal consequences under existing laws,” Nartatez said.
Police regional offices and local police units were also directed to monitor the spread of the false information in their respective areas.
Nartatez urged parents, students, and the public to be careful when consuming and sharing online posts, especially announcements affecting schools and communities.
“We urge parents, students, and the public to rely only on official announcements from DepEd and other authorized government agencies. If they encounter suspicious posts, they should refrain from sharing them and report them to the proper authorities,” he said.
The PNP said its campaign against online misinformation is part of broader efforts to protect the public from deceptive content that disrupts daily activities and undermines trust in legitimate government advisories.